Noteworthy Australians: Their Place in History Quiz

Answer: $5

The first notes had direct correlation to pre-decimal values- $1 equalled 10 shillings, $2 equalled 20 shillings (one pound), $10 replaced the five pound and the 10 pound became $20. There was no equivalent for the $5.

Question written by ozzz2002, who is old enough to remember the big day!

Answer: The artwork was used without the artist's knowledge

The image depicts the mortuary feast of the ancestral hunter Gurrmirringu. The artist was David Malangi. The reproduction on the $1 note was done originally without his knowledge, but acknowledged in 1967 with the release of the Australian five dollar note. He was later financially compensated after the Governor of the Reserve Bank intervened.
Question submitted by 1nn1

Answer: John MacArthur

John MacArthur is credited with pioneering the wool industry in Australia. His work on cross-breeding Bengal ewes with Irish Rams led the way in producing high quality wool that was in high demand in the Mother Country. The other three gentlemen listed were all early governors of the New South Wales colony.
Submitted by 1nn1 who whenever he hears the quintessential Australian bush song, "Click Go the Shears", sings the lyrics of the decimal currency TV jingle which used the same tune. Sacrilege!

Answer: Immigration

Caroline is remembered for her work in assisting female immigrants to Australia. She achieved this by helping immigrants to find employment in the colony by establishing the Family Colonisation Loan Society, which provided them with funds to emigrate to Australia and find employment.

Caroline Chisholm is being considered for proposal to the Catholic church for sainthood.

The $5 was first issued in 1967, with issue of a Federation centenary note in 2001, and the present polymer note featuring Queen Elizabeth II.

Submitted by barrywlj

Answer: Architect

Greenway designed many buildings in early Sydney (approx 1816-23), quite a few of which are still standing. The Supreme Court, Macquarie Lighthouse, Hyde Park Barracks, Government House and the Conservatorium of Music are examples of his work- these buildings and more are protected by Heritage orders.

In typical Australian fashion, a convicted criminal is treated as a hero; Greenway has his head on the original $10 note. This question submitted by ozzz2002, who has a few of this note in his collection.

Answer: Poet/Author

Despite developing deafness at age 14 and fighting an ongoing alcohol addiction
Henry Lawson became famous not only for being one of Australia's greatest poets and story-tellers but also as one of our most colourful characters. He was honoured in 1949 with a postage stamp bearing his image. Dying from a cerebral hemorrhage in Sept 1922, Lawson was the first distinguished citizen to be granted a State funeral in Australia.

Submitted by Tarrox

Answer: First trans-Pacific flight

Kingsford Smith was born in Queensland in 1897 and his later exploits were almost prematurely curtailed in 1907 when he nearly drowned at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Shortly afterwards, his rescuers set up the world's first surf life saving group. During World War I, after first serving in the army, Kingsford Smith joined the Royal Flying Corps. After the war he took on a range of flying jobs including as a commercial pilot for the fledgling West Australian Airways.

Starting on May 31, 1928 and in partnership with co-pilot Charles Ulm, Kingsford Smith crossed the Pacific in the 'Southern Cross' in 3 steps: Oakland to Hawaii, Hawaii to Fiji, and then Fiji to Brisbane (after landing in Ballina, NSW). He was met by a crowd of 26,000 and became a national hero. He also recorded several other aviation firsts: first non-stop crossing of Australia, the first trans-Tasman flight, the first Australia to US flight and setting a new record of 10.5 days for flying from Australia to London.

He disappeared, presumed drowned, when the 'Lady Southern Cross' went missing en route to Singapore in November, 1935.

Question by MikeMaster99, whose first television viewing memory is the ad and accompanying jingle for the introduction of this new currency.

Answer: Medical researcher

Florey's major contribution was his role in developing the practical production of penicillin, building on the earlier discovery by Alexander Fleming. Florey, another member of his team and Fleming shared a Nobel Prize for their work.

All of the wrong answers are professions of people honoured on other Australian currency notes.

Submitted by mctavish99, who still refers to the cost of a unit fee telephone call as "sixpence".

Answer: A scientist

Sir Ian's main speciality was in veterinary science, and he headed the CSIRO for many years until his death. During his tenure with the CSIRO, he oversaw the introduction of myxomatosis which was designed to keep the rabbit population in check.

The Cocos Islands were colonised by Sir Ian's grandfather's brother, and remained in the hands of the Clunies-Ross family for generations. The explorer was John Ross (no relation), and the film star was George Clooney (also no relation, and of course not Australian.)

Question submitted by mctavish99, who was there on the big day.

Answer: Aurora

Sir Douglas Mawson was born in Yorkshire, England in 1882 and migrated to Australia with his family two years later, settling in the Sydney suburb of Rooty Hill. He studied at the University of Sydney and earned a Bachelor of Science before accepting a position at the University of Adelaide as Lecturer in mineralogy and petrology. It was in Adelaide in 1907 where Mawson first met Ernest Shackleton who was en-route to Antarctica aboard the Nimrod. Mawson requested a spot on the expedition team which was granted. His official role was that of expedition physicist. Although somewhat dismayed that Shackleton's primary focus of the expedition was to reach the South Pole, rather than scientific research, Mawson still did publish a number of his findings from the work he was able to carry out. In addition he was a member of a party who became the first men to climb Mount Erebus as well as a member of a three man team who were the first to reach the magnetic South Pole.

In 1909 Mawson declined an offer to join Robert Scott's Antarctic expedition; Mawson had plans for his own. These plans came to fruition when, in 1911, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, led by Mawson, set sail for Antarctica aboard the Aurora. This expedition was one of scientific exploration; amongst other things, studies were conducted in geology, meteorology and biology. But tragedy also struck this expedition. A team of three men; Mawson, Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz, were returning to base after an inland trek when Ninnis and a team of sledge dogs fell through a deep crevasse in the ice; his body could not be found. Mertz also perished during the return to base. Food was scarce and he and Mawson were forced to eat some of the remaining dogs. Mertz was a vegetarian and so preferred to eat the liver which was not as tough as the flesh. It is believed that the high levels of Vitamin A in the liver of this breed poisoned him. Mawson eventually made it back to base alone, albeit some hours late. The Aurora had already set course for home and he could see it on the horizon as he arrived at camp. He was forced to endure another year in Antarctica with the small search party who had remained behind.

Sir Douglas Mawson was knighted in 1914 and he has left a great and lasting legacy since his death in 1958. There have been numerous geographical locations and biological species named after him as well as Australia's first permanent station in Antarctica. Mawson is also the name of an electorate within the South Australian State Parliament and a suburb of the Australian Capital Territory; such honours are reserved for prominent and important people. His image has also featured on many postage stamps. Although I've never been financially blessed to the extent where I've seen a $100 note (let alone hold one in my hands) I do believe the image of Mawson on this particular banknote was copied from a photograph taken by fellow Antarctic explorer Frank Hurley.

Question by Aussiedrongo who doesn't have two brass razoos to rub together.